Post/Author/DateTime	Post
shadow_brian22 04-04-07, 11:07 PM	Everybody is saying that Druids are one of the most powerful classes in the game. I honestly see them as a hybrid of many classes and not that great ant any one thing. If somebody can show me how they can be good, that would be great.
Phantom Lord 04-05-07, 12:17 AM	Try this: 1) Open up your monster manual and have a look through all the nifty things that a druid can turn into. 2) Imagine what a powerhouse you would have on your hands if a full caster was running around as a fully buffed (insert critter here) all day long while still retaining the ability to cast. 3) Compare to the wizard or sorcerer That's not all of it, but it's a good place to start. The Phantom Lord
nightwyrm 04-05-07, 12:49 AM	The CO boards would answer this better, but here's the gist: 1. Free pet that can fight rather decently 2. Versatile divine spells that reaches to 9th level 3. Wildshape that gives the druid some very good fighting forms and doesn't even have to give up his spell casting while in that form with natural spell. Each power by itself wouldn't be so insane, but when you combine them all in a druid, you get a character that has versatility and strength for almost everything. Basically, the only thing missing is trapfinding ability.
shadow_brian22 04-05-07, 08:08 AM	ya, but it kinda just seems like a weak cleric.
cactot 04-05-07, 08:39 AM	ya, but it kinda just seems like a weak cleric. well, druids while arguably the most powerful class (tied with cleric, wizard and artificer) don't often dominate a game or make other classes feel worthless like some other classes. (wizards often manage to have abilities that completely bypass encounters, and while druids can do it also, wizards do it better typically. and clerics often make warrior types feel worthless, since they are every bit as good in the melee department but far more versatile). 1. well, to start their animal companion, if you choose the right one and buff it correctly is very close to the combat power of a moderately built fighter 2. they have one of the best spell lists in the game, lots healing spells, tons of utility spells, the best summoning spells (with the right choices you can summon creatures that would either be above your CR (greenbound summoning) or have really nifty abilities (like cast a high power cone of cold at will with rashemeni? elemental summoning), they also have some of the best battlefield control spells and buffing spells. (sure they dont get righteous might, but animal growth is actually better since it can affect both you and your companion (and summons) all with one casting). Oh yeah, they have pretty good spells for killing too. Overall their spell list is far better than a clerics IMHO, the only advantage clerics have is divine metamagic and metal armor. 3. they get shapechange 4. you can have access to all day flying earlier than any other class, and can cast while completely out of danger in 90% of battles. 5. using wildshape you have a huge amount of versatility for spying, stealth, combat, fleeing (not that druids ever need to flee = P) 5-2. using wildshape their huge flexibility of combat forms allows them to choose a form for the occasion. Fighting a huge amount of weak or medium power foes, how bout the triceratops and do the triceratops shuffle (charge ->trample ->charge ->trample). Need to grapple? choose a dire bear or war briar. Need to do a lot of damage? choose a form with high strength and many attacks. i would say that the reason you think they are weaker than clerics, is because a druid can be extremely useful without breaking the game because of their huge flexibility, and most people do not try and break the games they play in. Do not mistake that for a lack of power, with the correct choosing of animal forms, animal companion, and spells they can overwhelm just about any foe and break most games if they so try.
Roland the Crownbreaker 04-05-07, 09:03 AM	As has been said already, druids can come a close second to most other classes in capability, even without the Wild Spell feat. (which my DM has already banned. It hasn't stopped people from playing druids yet) They have pretty good access to healing magics, enough to cover for a cleric. However, if the party is larger than normal, it might want to add a paladin or a bard to help out. Unlike the cleric, the druid has much more in the way of offensive magic, even if limited only to the PHB. While the Spell Compendium added more offense to the cleric, it adds more to the druid, who already started out ahead to begin with. Unlike other offensive spellcasters, druids have a d8 hit die, rather than a d4. On top of this, they have an animal companion in case anyone tries to run them over. And they can shapechange into an impressive animal on top of it. Most buffing magic they have can effect both them and thier animal companion with the same casting. The druid in animal form might not surpass the fighting classes alone (depending on what level in involved) but backed up by the animal companion can do so easily. Shapechange can also allow the druid to scout with less risk than even a whisper gnome built for it. Not many people take notice of rats and sparrows. Via summoning, the druid can increase his spell list, and he isn't even required to prepare these spells in advance. I don't have the PHB with me atm, but I know that the druid can summon spellcasting creatures as early as level 7 (unicorn), and depending on what books are allowed, it may very well be sooner. The summoned creatures include fey, allowing the druid to encroach even more on the wizard, since many fey have access to charms and illusions. The only thing that summons better than a druid is a purpose built wizard, using the Master Specialist prestige class from Complete Mage.
shadow_brian22 04-05-07, 03:00 PM	so how is it they can affect their pets and self at same time? sorry, i dont have a PHB with me at the moment so i dont know wut animal companions get for abilities.
nightwyrm 04-05-07, 03:02 PM	so how is it they can affect their pets and self at same time? sorry, i dont have a PHB with me at the moment so i dont know wut animal companions get for abilities. Share spell ability. Although the range is fairly limited unless you take the spellbond companion (? not sure about name) feat.